County Prosecutor: Firefighter Robert Meyer Died From Cardiac Arrest

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office has announced that the firefighter who died at the scene of a commercial blaze in Union Beach Sunday died from cardiac arrest. 

Robert Meyer, 54, of Union Hose Fire Company No. 1, died from a heart attack suffered at the scene of a four-alarm fire Sunday evening while battling a blaze at HydrAir, Inc., 615 Union Ave., in Union Beach, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at Bayshore Community Hospital by Dr. Shah at 7:17 p.m. Sunday evening. 

The results of a post-mortem investigation by the Monmouth County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Meyer died from cardiac arrest. Four other firefighters were transported to Bayshore Community Hospital as a precaution, said the Prosecutor's Office.

“The Bayshore community and Monmouth County residents are mourning the loss of a man who volunteered his time to help those in need. His death is a selfless act that illustrates his dedication to his community,” said Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Marc C. LeMieux in a statement.

Union Beach firefighters responded to a 5:56 p.m. report of a structure fire at HydrAir, Inc., located at 615 Union Ave. and upon arrival struck a Second Alarm to bring additional resources to the scene. The fire was eventually elevated to Four Alarms with firefighters from the Middletown Fire Department, North Centerville Fire Department, Hazlet Fire Department, Keyport Fire Department, Holmdel Fire Department, East Keansburg Fire Company, Keansburg Fire Department and Red Bank Fire Department. 

Assisting at the scene were detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Bureau and Forensics Unit, Monmouth County Fire Marshal's Office, Monmouth County Sheriff's Office Field Communications Unit, New Jersey State Fire Marshal's Office Investigation Unit, and the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management, Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Highlands borough Office of Emergency Management provided light towers to the scene.

The cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office. Anyone with information about this fire is urged to call Detective John Liebfried of this Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Detective Chris Tuberion of the Union Beach Police Department at 732-264-0313.